Industrial Water Use, 1996

Executive Summary

The Industrial Water Use Survey has been conducted every five years. This report provides the results of the 1996 survey, and makes very general comparisons with the results of the previous two surveys – that conducted in 1991 and to a lesser extent that conducted in 1986.

• Manufacturing establishments reduced overall gross water use by 8% from 1991 to 1996. The water recycling rate in the sector increased from 93% to 115%. This increased efficiency in water use resulted in a reduction of 17% in total water intake.
• Despite these positive developments, consumption rates have gone up from 7% of water withdrawn in 1991 to 9% in 1996 – a continuation of the trend since 1986, when it was just 5%.
• Also of note is that, despite the greater water use efficiencies achieved in manufacturing, at least 42% of the discharges of the sector continue to be released untreated. On the positive side, this is down from an estimated 50% in 1991.
• In contrast to the reductions in the manufacturing establishments, the mineral extraction sector increased their gross water use by 8% from 1991 to 1996. The water recycling rate in the sector declined from 336% to 231%. This reduced efficiency in water use explains the increase of 42% in total water intake.
• The mineral extraction sector also continues to discharge waste (78% to freshwater bodies) with little treatment beyond primary levels.
• In the thermal power Generation sector, water recirculation took a notable jump from 17% of intake in 1991 to 41% of intake in 1996.

The full version of this report is available in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. 

Instructions on using this format are found on the Help page.

If the format is not accessible to you, print copies can be requested from:

Sustainable Water Management
Environmental Stewardship Branch
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H3
Fax: (819) 934-5101 or
H2O@ec.gc.ca